Bhagatji Maharaj

Bhagatji Maharaj
Personal
Born
Pragji Bhakta

20 March 1829
Mahuva, Gujarat, India
Died7 November 1897(1897-11-07) (aged 68)
Mahuva, Gujarat, India
ReligionHinduism
Organization
PhilosophyAkshar-Purushottam Darshan
Role2nd spiritual successor of Swaminarayan (1867-1897)

Bhagatji Maharaj (20 March 1829 – 7 November 1897), born as Pragji Bhakta,[1][2] was a householder devotee in the Swaminarayan Sampradaya, a Hindu denomination. He is regarded as the second spiritual successor of Swaminarayan in the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS).[3]: 100 

Through his discourses he was instrumental in propagating the belief that Swaminarayan was Purushottam, the Supreme Being, and that his own guru, Gunatitanand Swami, was Akshar, the divine abode of God.[4][5] His spiritual realization and practice as a lower ranked caste householder set new precedents and acted as a bulwark against the idea that spiritual elevation was confined to upper castes.[6]: 24 [7]: 56 

For BAPS devotees, he is best known for passing on the philosophy of the Akshar Purushottam Upasana to his closest disciple, Shastriji Maharaj, who later founded BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha in 1907 after leaving the Swaminarayan Sampradaya.[7]: 56 [5] His inclusion is the BAPS lineage is remarkable as he was a tailor and was not a saffron-clad swami demonstrating that status does not limit spiritual realization.[7]: 56  The extraordinary spiritual service and unflinching devotion towards his guru elevated him to an exalted standing among devotees of the Swaminarayan sect both past and present.[8]

  1. ^ Joanne Punzo Waghorne; Norman Cutler; Vasudha Narayanan (1996). Gods of Flesh, Gods of Stone. Columbia University Press. p. 155.
  2. ^ Raymond Brady Williams. A New Face of Hinduism: The Swaminarayan Religion. p. 46.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Vivekjivandas, Sadhu, ed. (March 2008). "Like Bees to a Flower". Swaminarayan Bliss: 14.
  5. ^ a b Dave, Ramesh (2000). Navya-Visistadvaita: The Vedanta Philosophy of Sri Swaminarayana. Dadar, Mumbai: Aksara Prakasana. pp. 407–409.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference ishwarcharandas1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b c Williams, Raymond Brady (2001). An introduction to Swaminarayan Hinduism. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-65279-7.
  8. ^ Dave, Harshadrai (March 2011). "The Glory of Bhagatji Maharaj". Swaminarayan Bliss. Translated by Parekh, Amar: 11.